Solfestuka 2026 – when the sun returns

Solfestuka 2026 marks the return of the sun after the dark season and brings the whole of Longyearbyen together for almost two weeks of concerts, culture, activities, and community for all ages.

Solfestuka marks one of the most important moments of the year in Longyearbyen – when the sun reappears over the mountains after the dark season. The return of the sun is a powerful and unifying tradition, where the entire local community comes together to celebrate light, hope, and the transition to spring.

Solfestuka is first and foremost a meeting place – between people, ideas, expressions, and traditions. Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers, and partners who make Solfestuka possible and who together contribute to creating life, experiences, and community in Longyearbyen.

In 2026, Solfestuka will span almost two weeks, with a wide and varied program for children, young people, and adults. The program includes concerts, performances, sports activities, lectures, films, art, and social meeting places, and showcases the strength of the collaboration between volunteers, institutions, and local actors.

Program - Solfestuka 2026:

Sunday, March 1
12:00 p.m. - Solfest service at Hiorthamn
Svalbard Church holds a Solfest service at Hiorthamn.

1:30 p.m. - Café del Sol at the folk high school
Church coffee in collaboration with Svalbard Church and the folk high school. The proceeds go to an international collaboration project.

Thursday, March 5 - Saturday, March 7 Sun
Festival Revue at Kulturhuset
Spitsbergen Revylag presents this year's Sun Festival Revue, "Full Tank: A WILD Revue!" with a tongue-in-cheek look at the past year, filled with humor, music, and local references that will appeal to both new and long-time residents of Longyearbyen.
You can find tickets for the revue at
this link Tickets for the revue can be found HERE. External link, opens in new window.

Friday, March 6, 11:00 a.m. - First Friday Coffee Club, solstice edition at Artica

Saturday, March 7
From 10:00 a.m. - "Get Out and Drive" Part 3 - Outdoor
Activity for Youth. UNG i LYB in collaboration with Sysselmesteren, Red Cross, Sons of Svalbard, Svalbard Skuterutleie. Alternative date in case of bad weather is Saturday, March 14.

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Nybyen Day at Nybyen Spitsbergen Art Center
Lectures, presentations, and historical walk focusing on Nybyen's history, present, and future.
Click this link to see the event on Facebook External link.  

12:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Children’s Sun Festival Saturday at Lompensenteret
Join the sun hunt and search for sunshine – everyone who participates gets a small surprise! There will also be face painting for the kids, an opportunity to create your own sun, and free sun‑themed balloons on sticks.

4:00 PM – Cinema: First Light at Nordover Cinema
The inhabitants of Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, shrouded in darkness for four months each year, reflect on why they choose to live in such a harsh place – and how their unique relationship with the sun changes the meaning of light and darkness in their lives.
In this link you will find tickets for the film External link.

Sunday, March 8 - Return of the
Sun 11:45 p.m.

Even if the weather isn't quite cooperating, we will of course be celebrating the return of the sun again this year.

The traditional celebration on March 8 will be moved to Svalbard Church, so that we can still welcome back the sun – together.

Due to limited space in the church, we encourage everyone to be considerate. We would like families with children to be admitted first, so that the little ones can experience this wonderful moment. It is also a good idea to dress warmly—there may be a bit of a wait before everyone is seated indoors.

The doors open at 11:45 a.m., and waffles, buns, and juice/toddy will be served. From 12:30 p.m., there will be speeches, award presentations, and singing/sing-alongs with Polargospel, which will contribute to the good atmosphere we know so well from the sun day.

1:00 PM – Activities for children in the ski slope
Before Ta sjansen kicks off, there will be activities for children, a fire pit, and a cozy atmosphere! Bring the whole family.

2:00 PM – Ta sjansen in the ski slope
Svalbard Folk High School is hosting the traditional competition with creative homemade vehicles and prizes.

5:30 p.m. - Women's Day celebration at Svalbard Museum
More information to come.

8:00 p.m. - Cinema: A Day Without Women at Nordover Cinema
A Day Without Women is a gripping documentary about the large-scale women's strike in Iceland in 1975. Through archive footage and personal stories, the film depicts how an entire nation felt the consequences of women taking the day off – and how this accelerated both political reforms and social debate.

Monday, March 9 5:00 p.m.
- 8:00 p.m. - Jibbing and backflip course at Nedover alpine slope
Svalbard Turn invites young people to a course in jibbing and backflips.
Arne Veim and Anton Sæten are returning to Svalbard for new tricks and welcome everyone to the course.
They are passionate about extreme sports and look forward to sharing their passion with the youth of Svalbard.

8:00 p.m. - Lecture: Cyclist Atle Førsvoll at Kulturhuset
Free admission.
Atle Førsvoll has traveled over 43,000 kilometers through 43 countries by bicycle, from Longyearbyen to Cape Town. In his lecture, he shares stories from his 2.5 years on the road – about living in tune with the sun and nature, meeting people across continents, and about courage, perseverance, and new choices.
Atle also gives lectures for schools during the day.
Collaboration between the Longyearbyen local government and Svalbard Turn.
Follow this link to see the event on Facebook External link.

Tuesday, March 10,
05:30 p.m. – Sun Festival Café at Kulturhuset
Kullstrupene blandakor invites you to a traditional sun festival café with sing-alongs and local contributions.

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Introductory course in death diving at Svalbardhallen
Death diving is a Norwegian extreme sport where you jump from a diving tower with a focus on control, technique, and style. Instructor Arne Haugland provides training in technique, safety, and rules for the sport. You can see the event External link.
on Facebook at this link External link.

Wednesday, March
11 12:00 p.m. - Lunch tour: Morning over the glaciers at Nordover Art Center
In connection with Solfestuken 2026, a lunch tour will be introduced with a focus on Morning over the glaciers by Kåre Tveter. The tour takes as its starting point the light that returns, softly reflected from ice and snow, and mirrors the transition from darkness to light in Longyearbyen.
Duration: 30 minutes. The ticket includes a sun bun and coffee. You can see the event External link.
on Facebook at this link External link.

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Death defying competition in Svalbardhallen
Competition focusing on technique, style, and safety.
Follow this link to see the event on Facebook External link.

7:30 p.m. - Sun Festival Quiz at Tio Munchos

Friday, March 13
6:30 p.m. - Bea Uusma. Lecture: Vitön – the independent continuation of The Expedition at Longyearbyen Kulturhus
Bea Uusma takes the audience beyond her work on the book The Expedition and presents new findings and perspectives related to Andrée's polar expedition and the events on Vitön.

6:30 p.m. - Film: Engineer Andrée's Air Journey at Kulturhuset
Filmklubben in collaboration with Longyearbyen Public Library.
Film from 1982 based on Andrée's balloon journey to the North Pole. The film provides a dramatic portrait of the expedition and the era in which it took place.
Shown with English subtitles.
Ticket price: NOK 100.

Saturday, March 14 5:
00 p.m. - Free concert for young people: Rotlaus at Kulturhuset
Longyearbyen Blues Club invites you to a free concert for children and young people up to 17 years of age.

9:00 p.m. - Concert: Rotlaus at Kulturhuset
As the final event of Solfestuka 2026, Longyearbyen Blues Club invites you to a party night with Rotlaus. The evening offers a concert, dancing, and socializing, and puts a dignified and lively end to two weeks of celebration, culture, and community in Longyearbyen.

Rotlaus on Rotlaus:
We have nothing to prove. We play music – and we do it damn well. Have fun, do your thing and be real. Don't try to fit into a box or copy others. Do your own thing.

Age limit 18 years. You can find External link.
tickets for the concert at this link External link.

Solfest T-shirts and buttons

Once again this year, the public can purchase T-shirts with this year's sun design and sun buttons. The T-shirts can be purchased at the library and at Nordover. The public is encouraged to wear the T-shirts and buttons and show them off during Solfest week as a visible expression of community and celebration of the return of the sun.

General information
In addition, there will be readings and activities for kindergartens and schoolchildren at the Longyearbyen Public Library during Solfestuken.

Updated program information
Sun Festival Week consists of events organized by various organizers. There may be adjustments to the program. The public is therefore encouraged to follow the detailed information and any updates published by the individual organizers in advance of and during Sun Festival Week.

Welcome to Solfestuken 2026 – We look forward to seeing you!

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